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The Citizen, 2019-05-09, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2019. Versteeg departs Brussels Community Bible Church After eight years in Brussels, Pastor Andrew Versteeg of the Brussels Community Bible Church is moving on, taking a job in the Owen Sound area. Versteeg has taken a full-time position at the head of the Strathaven Baptist Church in Chatsworth, a historic church with nearly 150 years of history. The process began nearly a full year ago, when Versteeg began to feel a strong calling to be a pastor full-time after years of working part- time with the Brussels Community Bible Chapel. He said he would have loved to stay in Brussels and even suggested a full-time ministry at the church, but he said the church wasn’t quite in the position to commit to a full-time pastor. Versteeg said that he and the Brussels Community Bible Chapel are separating on good terms, but he felt a pull towards full-time ministry and he had to follow that inclination. Not only will it be difficult to leave the church and the congregation, Versteeg said, but he and his family had truly made a life for themselves in Brussels, so it will be hard to leave those relationships behind as well. It was almost a year and a half ago that Versteeg said he felt the calling of full-time ministry and, after consulting with the Brussels Bible Chapel representatives as to their appetite for full-time pastoral care, he began a search on the internet, finding Strathaven Baptist Church. Versteeg began meeting with the church representatives in Chatsworth and he was officially up for the job in the next few months. The vote, however, didn’t go through the first time and he was encouraged to spend some more time at the church, getting to know both the church and its congregation, as well as the surrounding community. The area is very rural, he said, so it won’t have a “small town feeling” like Brussels, but the community has felt warm and welcoming in his visits there. Versteeg has since preached at the church a number of times and feels it will be a good fit for him and his family as he transitions into full-time ministry. When a vote to bring Versteeg to the church was retaken last fall, it was unanimous that the church wanted him. Versteeg says he will truly look back on his time in Brussels with a smile, knowing that he learned so much at the church and made many friends in the community. A native of the Fordwich area, Versteeg said being a pastor at a Brussels church was truly a homecoming for him. Over the years, he says he was pleased to see the Brussels Community Bible Chapel grow, especially when it came to involving young people in the church and creating opportunities for them, like the annual vacation Bible school and the kids’ club. When Versteeg arrived at the church nearly a decade ago, it was still very new, so he says it was exciting to be part of building something almost from the ground up in Brussels. Versteeg says there will be similar tasks waiting for him at Strathaven, where he hopes to engage the local youth and get them excited about and involved in their local church. One big happy family The Versteeg family will now head to the Owen Sound area after eight years with the Brussels Community Bible Chapel. Pastor Andrew Versteeg, top right, seen here with his family, begins his time with the Strathaven Baptist Church in Chatsworth on June 1. (Photo submitted) Looking back Eight years ago, above, Pastor Andrew Versteeg, left, and his wife Tricia moved to the area so Andrew could preach at the Brussels Community Bible Church. Now, the Versteeg family is moving to the Owen Sound area, where Andrew will take on a full-time pastor position. (File photo) By Jo-Ann McDonald The week at the Brussels Legion Branch was the normal meeting of the Cadet Corp., which is getting ready for the year-end review at the end of the month. The Brussels Legion Pipe Band meets Thursday evening and always welcomes new folks to join them. They will teach you playing of the pipes or drumming and would love to have anyone come out and find out more about the pipe band. Thursday at 7 p.m. is when to come. The final night of the Thursday night dart league had 21 darters out to enjoy the fun. They played some fun dart games like baseball, close the door on winter, summertime fun, as well as regular games during the evening. The first-place team for the night was Ken Verbeek and Catrina Josling. The second-place team was Louise Poirier, Sheron Stadelmann and Lawrence Machan. The group enjoyed snacks during the evening while the certificate presentations were made by organizer Sandra Brown. The most starts during the year winner was Ken Verbeek for the men and Catrina Josling for the ladies. The most finishes for the men was John Stadelmann and for the ladies Penny Reynolds. The most starts over 60 was Debbie Burch and the high finish was Sandra hitting 143. The high shot of the year was Marlene Rutledge hitting 165 and the most skunks plaque went to Sharon Robbins. Darts will resume in the fall and everyone have a great summer. Friday night was the Catch the Ace draw and there was a full house on hand, all wanting to be the winner. The weekly winner was Matt Shortreed winning $850. His envelope of choice was number 18 and the king of clubs was revealed. The draw will go on! Tickets for the May 10 draw went on sale following the conclusion of the draw and at many of the businesses the next morning. Tickets were sold out within an hour of opening of the stores. This week’s draw is expected to be $22,400. The fish fry crew had a busy weekend with two dinners on the schedule. The big fry of the year was the Londesborough Lions Club on Saturday and they ordered for 560 folks. The crew was ready to cook by 4 p.m. and they worked steadily. Working for the Branch were Comrades Jim and Sandra Brown, Catrina and Devon Josling, Lisa Glanville, Joan Smith, Kathy Burkholder, Sharon Robbins, Dominique, Krysta Bujold and Andy Overholt. Home and cleaned up after Saturday night, the equipment was on the road again on Sunday morning to Ripley for the second fry of the weekend. The crew fed around 350 folks and working for the Branch were Jim and Sandra Brown, Lisa Glanville, Joan Smith, Kathy Burkholder, Ron and Daisy Schmidt, Jayne Ross and Randy White. Another good job and great job by the Comrades. Comrade Jo- Ann McDonald and Judy Lee were on prep duty for both of the events. NEWS FROM BRUSSELS Brussels Legion 218 Catch the Ace Weekly Winner Winning Ticket: Matt Shortreed $850 Envelope #18 found the King of Clubs Estimated Jackpot for May 10 is $22,400 At the Branch Fish fry crew serves hundreds By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Brussels 519-887-9740 38 King St., Brussels Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 8 pm; Sat. 8 am - 6 pm; Sun. 10 am - 6 pm Welcomes Corey McKay to the community as the new Brussels Foodland Manager Thank you for your support over the last 5 years. It has been a pleasure to be a part of this community. ~ Dan Threndyle Pictured from left, Corey McKay and Dan Threndyle.